It seems recently I’ve been getting messages and comments on the single table debate. Then over at the New York Times’ soccer blog, Jack Bell throws out his hopes for the idea and what to do with the playoff format.

The obvious question is: Why even bother with two conference? Why not a single table? Glad you asked.

Next season the league with expand to 18 teams, with the addition of Vancouver and Portland. That probably means that a team from the west will be shifted to the other conference, which could prove to be extra silly since the team farthest east is Houston. So perhaps it is time to consider the single table and another new playoff format, one which will make the regular season a bit more important.

With a single table, the top two teams in the regular season would qualify and have a first-round bye. The next four teams, for a total of six, would also advance to the postseason.

Bell mentions Houston for a possible move to the Eastern conference, I’ve been on board with suggesting Dallas due to the fact that there is a professional team here in Dallas that is in a division that is known as the NFC East.

Some of the discussion I’ve had recently was centered around a three division set up. I can for one tell you I hate that idea with a passion. I honestly believe when the league did a three conference/division set up a decade ago it was an idea that ultimately failed them at the time. Its confusing, uneven and just wrong…just wrong.

I’m fine with conferences and if the league continues to grow with more than 20 teams (which I think it will), I’m also fine with as many as four divisons within two conferences.

But deep down I am ready for a single table format here with this league. With two more additions next year it just make sense and I think the league knows that by now. They’ve entertained the thought of it for a while now and I wouldn’t be shocked to see them go that direction soon.

Bell also brings up another interesting though in terms of the playoff format. I’m not sure if it was intentional or a typo on his part but it sounds like he is saying they need to lower the number of clubs that get in to six. So next year with 18 clubs, only six get into the big dance. I like that idea.

I know this debate has gone on time and time again with this league but I do feel we’re getting close to a change in the coming years.

Can New York shut down Javier Morales and RSL? (Getty Images)

So it comes down to this, the two most unlikely candidates to play for a chance at a MLS Cup birth tomorrow night. If you had pegged New York against Real Salt Lake a conference semifinal this year then you obviously knew something more than anyone else in the MLS world.

Seriously though, at the start of the year no one would have had this matchup as a conference final one. Hell, not too many people even had it going into last weekend. But nevertheless these two clubs defied the odds and made it here with a chance to move on to face Columbus in the 2008 MLS Cup in LA.

This is an interesting matchup though. These two clubs always play a very interesting and entertaining contest when they face one another. I think the new stadium effect will be a good one for RSL too. New York has been typically inconsistent on the road this year but no one can over-look what they did in Houston a week ago.

You have two defenses that I find a tad bit overrated and two midfields that need more credit than what they are getting around the league. In goal I would put RSL over New York based on experience, while Danny Cepero has been great thus far I have to think Nick Rimando has a slight edge over him. Offensively speaking I think New York has the edge over RSL. Juan Pablo Angel along with Dane Richards have been extremely hot over the past month or two. RSL has been here and there as far as the offense goes. They can give thanks to plenty of late goals that have got them to where they are right now.

At the end of the night I think this one will be just as good as far as an entertainment value as the game last night. It should be fairly wild as both teams will be going after one another and will not be holding anything back. I think the offensive edge to New York makes me want to pick them in the slight upset. I do like RSL at home but I think a hot Angel and Richards are too much for RSL to contend with right now.

RSL will get on the board but I like Angel to put it home for the Red Bulls and set up the first ever all Eastern Conference MLS Cup.

WVH Prediction: New York 3, RSL 2